RCW 4.24.130
Action for change of name—Fees.
(1) Any person desiring a change of the person's name or that of the person's child or ward, may apply therefor to the district court of the judicial district in which the person resides, by petition setting forth the reasons for such change; thereupon such court in its discretion may order a change of the name and thenceforth the new name shall be in place of the former.
(2) An offender under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections who applies to change the offender's name under subsection (1) of this section shall submit a copy of the application to the department of corrections not fewer than five days before the entry of an order granting the name change. No offender under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections at the time of application shall be granted an order changing the offender's name if the court finds that doing so will interfere with legitimate penological interests, except that no order shall be denied when the name change is requested for religious or legitimate cultural reasons or in recognition of marriage or dissolution of marriage. An offender under the jurisdiction of the department of corrections who receives an order changing the offender's name shall submit a copy of the order to the department of corrections within five days of the entry of the order. Violation of this subsection is a misdemeanor.
(3) A sex offender subject to registration under RCW 9A.44.130 who applies to change the sex offender's name under subsection (1) of this section shall follow the procedures set forth in RCW 9A.44.130(7).
(4) The district court shall collect the fees authorized by RCW 36.18.010 for filing and recording a name change order, and transmit the fee and the order to the county auditor. The court may collect a reasonable fee to cover the cost of transmitting the order to the county auditor. Upon affidavit by the person seeking the name change that the person is unable to pay the fees due to financial hardship, the court shall waive all fees for filing and recording a name change order and direct the county auditor or recording officer to process the name change order at no expense to the person. The court may not waive the fees if the person has received victim compensation for name change fees.
(5) Name change petitions may be filed and shall be heard in superior court when the person desiring a change of the person's name or that of the person's child or ward is a victim of domestic violence as defined in RCW 7.105.010 and the person seeks to have the name change file sealed due to reasonable fear for the person's safety or that of the person's child or ward. Upon granting the name change, the superior court shall seal the file if the court finds that the safety of the person seeking the name change or the person's child or ward warrants sealing the file. In all cases filed under this subsection, whether or not the name change petition is granted, there shall be no public access to any court record of the name change filing, proceeding, or order, unless the name change is granted but the file is not sealed.
[ 2022 c 141 § 1; 2021 c 215 § 90; 1998 c 220 § 5; 1995 sp.s. c 19 § 14; 1995 c 246 § 34; 1992 c 30 § 1; 1991 c 33 § 5; Code 1881 § 635; 1877 p 132 § 638; RRS § 998.]
NOTES:
Effective date—2022 c 141: "This act takes effect July 1, 2022." [ 2022 c 141 § 3.]
Effective date—2022 c 268; 2021 c 215: See note following RCW 7.105.900.
Severability—1998 c 220: See note following RCW 9A.44.130.
Findings—Purpose—Short title—Severability—Effective date—1995 1st sp.s. c 19: See notes following RCW 72.09.450.
Effective date—1991 c 33: See note following RCW 3.66.020.
Structure Revised Code of Washington
Chapter 4.24 - Special Rights of Action and Special Immunities.
4.24.005 - Tort actions—Attorneys' fees—Determination of reasonableness.
4.24.010 - Action for injury or death of child.
4.24.020 - Action by parent for seduction of child.
4.24.040 - Action for negligently permitting fire to spread.
4.24.050 - Kindling of fires by persons driving lumber.
4.24.060 - Application of common law.
4.24.070 - Recovery of money lost at gambling.
4.24.080 - Action to recover leased premises used for gambling.
4.24.090 - Validity of evidence of gambling debt.
4.24.130 - Action for change of name—Fees.
4.24.140 - Action by another state to enforce tax liability.
4.24.141 - Action by another state to enforce tax liability—"Taxes" defined.
4.24.150 - Action for fines or forfeitures.
4.24.160 - Action for penalty—Amount of recovery.
4.24.170 - Judgment for penalty or forfeiture—Effect of collusion.
4.24.180 - Disposition of fines, fees, penalties and forfeitures—Venue.
4.24.235 - Physicians—Immunity from liability regarding safety belts.
4.24.250 - Health care provider filing charges or presenting evidence—Immunity—Information sharing.
4.24.260 - Health professionals making reports, filing charges, or presenting evidence—Immunity.
4.24.264 - Boards of directors or officers of nonprofit corporations—Liability—Limitations.
4.24.300 - Immunity from liability for certain types of medical care.
4.24.310 - Persons rendering emergency care or transportation—Definitions.
4.24.311 - Immunity from liability for certain care or assistance at scene of emergency or disaster.
4.24.330 - Action for damages caused by criminal street gang tagging and graffiti.
4.24.345 - Unlawfully summoning a law enforcement officer—Civil action.
4.24.410 - Dog handler using dog in line of duty—Immunity.
4.24.450 - Liability of operators for nuclear incidents—Definitions.
4.24.470 - Liability of officials and members of governing body of public agency—Definitions.
4.24.490 - Indemnification of state employees.
4.24.500 - Good faith communication to government agency—Legislative findings—Purpose.
4.24.530 - Limitations on liability for equine activities—Definitions.
4.24.540 - Limitations on liability for equine activities—Exceptions.
4.24.545 - Electronic monitoring or 24/7 sobriety program participation—Limitation on liability.
4.24.550 - Sex offenders and kidnapping offenders—Release of information to public—Website.
4.24.5501 - Sex offenders—Model policy—Work group.
4.24.551 - Law enforcement response to secure community transition facility—Limitation on liability.
4.24.555 - Release of information not restricted by pending appeal, petition, or writ.
4.24.560 - Defense to action for injury caused by indoor air pollutants.
4.24.570 - Acts against animals in research or educational facilities.
4.24.575 - Acts against animals kept for agricultural or veterinary purposes.
4.24.580 - Acts against animal facilities—Injunction.
4.24.590 - Liability of foster parents.
4.24.601 - Hazards to the public—Information—Legislative findings, policy, intent.
4.24.630 - Liability for damage to land and property—Damages—Costs—Attorneys' fees—Exceptions.
4.24.640 - Firearm safety program liability.
4.24.660 - Liability of school districts under contracts with youth programs.
4.24.670 - Liability of volunteers of nonprofit or governmental entities.
4.24.680 - Unlawful release of court and law enforcement employee information—Exception.
4.24.710 - Outdoor music festival, campground—Detention.
4.24.720 - Liability immunity—Amber alerts.
4.24.730 - Liability immunity—Disclosure of employee information to prospective employer.
4.24.740 - Liability immunity—Bovine handling activities.
4.24.790 - Electronic impersonation—Action for invasion of privacy.
4.24.800 - Liability immunity—Charitable donation of eyeglasses or hearing instruments.
4.24.820 - Nonrecognition of foreign order—Incompatibility with public policy.
4.24.830 - Agritourism—Definitions.
4.24.832 - Agritourism—Immunity.
4.24.835 - Agritourism—Warning notice.
4.24.850 - Action by victim of false reporting—Liability to a public agency.
4.24.900 - Construction—Chapter applicable to state registered domestic partnerships—2009 c 521.